You cause trouble and I collect your body, the little emperor’s aunt abuses the scumbag again

The carriage curtain was lifted, and the face that was revealed made Lin Daxiong freeze in place.

It is Ji Yongyan.

He had become much thinner in the months since they last met, with stubble on his chin and his brocade clothes unable to conceal his exhaustion. But the moment he saw Lin Daxiong, his lifeless eyes instantly blazed with intense light.

That was the only vibrant expression Lin Daxiong had seen on his face in the past few months.

"Nobita!"

Ji Yongyan seemed to have forgotten his status as the crown prince. Ignoring the guards' attempts to stop him, he jumped off the carriage. He rushed to Lin Daxiong and grabbed his shoulders tightly with both hands.

He was very strong, gripping Lin Daxiong so tightly that his bones ached.

"You're finally back! I sent so many people to deliver messages to you, why didn't you reply? Why didn't you come directly to the East Palace to see me?"

His voice was trembling, a mixture of excitement and joy that had been suppressed for too long.

But Lin Daxiong saw this joy as the greatest irony in the world.

Looking at the man in front of him, who exuded an air of nobility, his mind went blank for a completely different image.

Meng Siya was lying on the delivery bed, covered in blood, her face as white as paper.

It was the loud cry of that newborn, wrinkled little thing.

It was when she opened her eyes, grabbed his hand, and squeezed out the words, one by one.

“Tell him…I…will…not…be…a…concubine…”

Anger, mixed with overwhelming grievances and heartache, instantly burned away Lin Daxiong's last shred of reason.

He didn't say a word.

He simply swung his arm wide, using all his strength, and punched Ji Yongyan hard in the face.

"boom!"

A muffled thud.

The entire long street seemed to fall silent for a moment.

Ji Yongyan staggered back two steps after being hit, and blood immediately appeared at the corner of his mouth. The guards behind him reacted, their expressions changed drastically, and they all drew their swords from their waists. The blades gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and they instantly surrounded Lin Daxiong.

"You audacious scoundrel! How dare you lay a hand on His Highness!"

"Take it!"

The people on the street were so frightened that they all knelt down, not daring to raise their heads.

The atmosphere was tense, ready to erupt at any moment.

"stop!"

Ji Yongyan raised his hand to stop the commotion among the guards.

He raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked at Lin Daxiong, whose eyes were bloodshot and who looked like an enraged lion. There was no anger on his face, but rather a complex expression that was a mixture of pain and relief.

He waved his men away, his voice low.

"Well played."

"This punch is what I owe you."

He thought that Lin Daxiong was angry because he had become the crown prince, abandoned his past, and married a woman from the Shangguan family, and because of the brothers he had left behind.

He had no idea that this punch was for another woman.

I know you're blaming me.

This word "understanding" only fueled the fire burning in Lin Daxiong's chest. He wanted to roar, to scream out everything he knew! He wanted to ask him if, while he was enduring humiliation and hardship, he knew that the woman he loved was struggling on the brink of death!

But Meng Siya's resolute face reappeared before his eyes.

"Only if I 'die' can he live."

Lin Daxiong's fists clenched so tightly they cracked, his nails digging deep into his flesh.

How ridiculous! Blame him? Does he even know why he's angry? This man has always been so self-righteous.

He thought everything he did was for the woman's good, but little did he know that Meng Siya had long since given up on him.

I wonder if, in his moment of glory, he ever thinks of the woman who was his only companion?

The more Lin Daxiong thought about it, the angrier he became.

Ji Yongyan didn't give him a chance to retaliate, grabbing his arm with great force.

"Come with me."

He dragged Lin Daxiong along, and under the astonished gazes of the crowd, walked towards Zuixianju across the street.

Once the door to the top-floor private room was closed, all outside noise was shut out.

Ji Yongyan was completely drained of his strength, his princely demeanor crumbled, and he slumped into a chair, utterly exhausted.

He poured himself two glasses of wine and pushed one towards Lin Daxiong.

"Drink."

He downed his own glass in one gulp, coughing twice as the strong liquor went down his throat, a bitter smile appearing on his face.

"The Shangguan family is insatiable. In their eyes, I, the crown prince, am just a puppet."

He looked at Lin Daxiong and began to recount his situation during this period.

How the Shangguan family controlled the government, how the emperor was suspicious and distrustful, and how the families of their former brothers were detained in the capital as hostages to threaten him.

His voice was hoarse and weak.

"Da Xiong, if I don't marry Shangguan Yun'er to keep them in check, do you think our brothers and their families will have any chance of survival?"

"I have no choice."

Lin Daxiong held his wine glass, his hand motionless, listening coldly.

Every word he uttered wasn't an explanation of his predicament, but rather a relentless tearing at Meng Siya's heart.

Yes, you had no choice, so Ya Ya deserved to pay the price for you? She deserved to give birth to your child in the countryside, almost dying from postpartum hemorrhage, and in the end, all she deserved was the title of a concubine?

Lin Daxiong's sneer almost spilled out.

Ji Yongyan was unaware of his unease. He was overwhelmed by his predicament and desperately needed someone to confide in. He thought Lin Daxiong understood him.

After pouring out all his grievances, he asked the question that had been lingering in his heart, tormenting him day and night.

His voice softened, carrying a hint of caution and longing that he himself was unaware of.

"What about her?"

Have you found her?

"Ya Ya...is she...is she alright?"

After he finished speaking, the room fell into a deathly silence.

Lin Daxiong's hand holding the wine glass suddenly trembled, spilling the wine and wetting the back of his hand.

They finally got to ask her.

He still had the medicine powder that Meng Siya had given him hidden in his sleeve.

Meng Siya's cold voice echoed in his mind.

"Tell him that Meng Siya is dead, and the child is gone too."

Lin Daxiong raised his head and met Ji Yongyan's hopeful eyes.

Those eyes, once upon a time, looked at Meng Siya with the same expression, promising her the world as her dowry, and a lifetime of devotion.

Lin Daxiong's throat was dry, and he couldn't utter a single word.

He said nothing, just remained silent, his expression shifting from anger to undisguised grief.

As Ji Yongyan fell silent, the color drained from his face.

The light in the room dimmed as well.

"Say something!"

Ji Yongyan suddenly stood up, grabbed Lin Daxiong by the collar, and almost roared.

"Nobita! Look at me! Say something!"

"What happened to her?!"

"Has something happened?!"

His hands were trembling, his voice was trembling, the prince's composure had vanished, leaving only fear.

Lin Daxiong, shaken by him, finally spoke, his voice hoarse.

"Let's do it..."

He called him by his old name.

"Let me go first."

"Please sit down."

Looking at him, Ji Yongyan's heart sank. He let go of his hand, swayed, and slumped back into the chair.

He stared intently at Lin Daxiong, awaiting the final verdict.

Lin Daxiong took a breath and spoke each word with all his might.

"When I found her... it was too late."

"Too late?"

Lin Daxiong's words made Ji Yongyan's face turn pale.

He released his grip on Lin Daxiong's collar, swayed slightly, and slumped back into his chair.

The room was completely silent.

He stared at Lin Daxiong, waiting for him to finish speaking.

"Say something!"